Device for indicating moisture in grain, &amp;c.



WL' 231263.965; Q

A. ZELEN Y. 03mg FOR IND'IGATING MOISTURE IN GRAIN, 6w. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1908.

1,059,099. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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I 5 JJL'JAZZZZZ A. ZELENY.

. DEVICE FOR INDIOATING MOISTURE IN GRAIN, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1908:

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ilk/2% l 1 Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY ZELENY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DEVICE FOR INDIGATING MOISTURE IN GRAIN, 8w.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

Application filed November 20, 1908. Serial No. 488,598.

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its especial object to provide an improved apparatus for determining the amount of moisture in grain,

' seeds, flour and various other materials.

' To the above. ends, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices'hereinafter described and defined in the claims. a

The improved apparatus includes a source of electrical energy, a galvanometer and a pair of separated electrodes, which latter, when brought into contact witlrthe material in which the amount of moisture is tobedet-ermined, complete an electric circuit"- through the galv'anometer and causea de- I fiect-ion to' beproduced on the .galvanometer, the magnitude of which, on a properly graduated scale, indicates the amount of moisture in such material.

The electrodes are preferably provided with sharp points, which adapt them to be readily inserted into a hard body such, for instance, as a kernel of corn. The galvanometer may be of any form which will indicate a variation in-current flow. In fact, the expression galvanometer is herein used in a very broad sense and is intended to include instruments such as ammeters, voltmeters and electrometers, for example.

When the electrodes are of the same material, a battery-or other independent source of electrical energy must be relied upon to supply the current necessary to produce the variable deflect-ions on the galvanometer.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the improved apparatus in the form which, in actual practice, has been found efiicient for the purposes had in View.

In the said drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the galvanometer; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the galvanometer, some -ferent kinds of materials will parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a view partly in diagram and partly in vertical secl-ion, showing the apparatus, some parts being broken away; Fig. 4 isa sectional view showing the electrode inserted into a cup containing ground material; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view, part1 .in section and partly in side elevation, s owing an elec trode with a detachable point; and Fig. "6

is a face view of the adjustable scale of the galvanometer.

The galvanometer, which I is preferably employed, is of the type disclosed and claimed in my'prior Patent N0. 705,186, issued of date, July 22, 1902, and of the parts thereof, it is only necessary for the purposes of this case to note the tripod 1, the'bifurcated frame 2 which serves as the permanent field magnet, the loosely suspended oscillatory coil 3, the mirror 4 which is carried by the coil 3 and the adjustable scale .5 and telescope 6, both of which are. supported from the frame 2 by projecting arm 7. In arranging this galvanometer for use in my improved apparatus, the size of the scale divisions or graduations, in the first instance, is determined experimentally by 0bserving the deflections obtained from grain or other material containing known amounts of moisture or other conducting impurities and in marking the scale accordingly. Difgenerally require different graduations.

The electrodes 8 are preferably mounted in, and project from, theend ofa tubular hand piece or body 9 of insulating material, such as vulcanized rubber or wood fiber, and also they are preferably formed with detachable points 8 which, as shown in Fig. -5, are provided with threaded shanks screwed into the bodies of the respective electrodes. These electrodes are thus spaced apart the desired distance, but their points will usually be in very close proximity. The electrodes 8 are connected by wires 10 to binding posts 11 and 12 of the galvanometer, which binding posts are connected in the usualway to l the opposite terminals of the coil 3.

In Fig. 4 the numeral 13 indicates a cup which contains tightly packed ground material 14, into which the points of the electrodes 8 are inserted for the purpose of determining the amount or percentage of moisture contained insuch material.-

' In Fig. 3, the numeral 15 designates a battery which is indicated by dotted lines only -and which affords a source of electrical energy.

As a reliminary to determining the amount 0 moisture contained in wheat and small seeds, such as flax seed, for example, such materials are preferably first ground and then tightly packed into a suitable receptacle and the electrodes are then inserted into this ground and packed material.

When the points of the electrodes are 'serted into-such moist material, an electric circuit will be established through the gal vanometer and the current will then flow through the galvanometer from the battery or other source of electrical energy and cause a deflection of the galvanometer. Obviously, the amount of deflection of the galvanometer will depend on the amount of moisture in the material to which the electrodes are applied.

'In determining the amount of moisture in larger materials, such as corn, the points of the electrodes are inserted directly into the kernel. It has been found that the germ of the corn kernel will contain a greater amount of moisture than the body of the kernel, which amount, however, has a definite proportionate relation to the moisture in the body of the kernel. Hence, in practice, the points of the electrodes are advisedly inserted into the germ of the kernel and amount of moisture is to be determined, completean electric circuit through the galvanometer and cause a deflection to beproduced on the galvanometer, the 'magnitude of which indicates the amount of moisture in such material.

2. An apparatus for determining the amount of moisture. in different materials comprising a source of electrical energy, an a galvanometer connected to said source and having a scale graduated to indicate per: centages of moisture, and a pair of separated pointed electrodes connected to said galva nome-ter, and which, when inserted into the material in which the amount of moisture is to be determ ned, complete an electric circuit through said galvanometer and cause a deflection to be produced on the galvanometer, the magnitude of which indicates the amount of moisture in such material.

3. Anapparatus for determining the amount of moisture in different materials, comprising a source of electrical energy, a galvanometer connected to said source and havingv a scale graduated to indicate percentages of moisture, a portable hand piece, and a pair of separated electrodes mounted in said hand piece and provided with detachable points, and which electrodes are connected to said galvanometer and when brought into contact with the material in which the amount of moisture is to be determined, complete an electric circuit through said galvanometer and cause a deflection on said alvanometer, the magnitude of which indicates the amount of moisture in such material.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY ZELENY. 

